Rugby sevens coach Wight targets Euro promotion

NEW Scotland Women 7s coach Scott Wight has targeted victory in Europe as the first step on the road to the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

After missing out on this year’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland, Wight is out to gain promotion to the Rugby Europe Grand Prix competition.

Wight, from Melrose, the birthplace of sevens, has captained the Scotland sevens team for the last two years after joining Glasgow Warriors from Melrose.

The 31-year-old led the side to its first HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series win in London last year and played in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Wight said: “We’re aiming to win the Rugby Europe Women’s Sevens Trophy to gain promotion to the Rugby Europe Grand Prix competition, so there is a lot of hard work to be done between now and the two tournaments in June and July.

“I’m excited about coaching this group and helping the squad reach their full potential in the sevens game. I met a lot of the squad during the Six Nations and there are some really talented players.”

“He’s a fantastic sevens player and role model for the squad, who I’m sure will excel under his coaching.

“Gaining promotion to the Rugby Europe Grand Prix is very much the focus. Yes, it is a challenge but one I’m sure Scott and the players will rise to.”

Scotland Women 7s finished third in the Rugby Europe Women’s Sevens Trophy last year. They will play in two warm-up tournaments before the first Rugby Europe leg in Czech Republic from June 10-11. The squad will travel to Hungary for the second and final leg on July 22-23.

Promotion to the Grand Prix would put the side a step closer to Scottish Rugby’s strategic goal of qualifying for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the 2022 Games.